Fujifilm Prescale®

Fujifilm Prescale is a unique, affordable and easy to use tool that reveals the distribution and
magnitude of pressure between any two contacting, mating or impacting surfaces. This Tactile
Pressure Indicating Sensor Film is extremely thin (4 to 8 mils) which enables it to conform to
curved surfaces. Fuji Prescale Film is ideal for invasive intolerant environments and tight spaces not
accessible to conventional electronic transducers.

Fujifilm Thermoscale®

Thermoscale® is a unique tool that indicates temperature level and distribution between any
two contacting surfaces. The most unique quality of Thermoscale® is that is goes where no other
IR camera or temperature gauge can ever go - on the surface of the heated object and in between
two contacting surfaces!

Tactilus®

Bodyfitter®

Tactilus® Flex

Ideal for applications/devices that require measurement of repetitive bending motion...
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Tactilus® Free Form sensor system

A "user constructed" tactile surface pressure system that provides unprecedented flexibility...
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Tactilus® Nano-Polymer Core | H-series Sensor

A nano-polymer based tactile surface sensor. With more accuracy, less drift & better repeatability...
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Tactilus® Stretch Sensor

A true stretch sensor where the entire sensor element stretches to conform to your surface...
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Auto-Nis®

is a Windows base scanner and software system that enables...
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DigiNip®

is a powerful new system that allows the quick and easy diagnosis...
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EZ-Nip®

is an extremely economical and practical solution for determining...
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Sigma-Nip®

is an electronic nip analysis system that calculates and records nip width...
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Shoe Press Profiler®

The Shoe Press ProfilerÂ® easily allows any technician to quickly and easily capture an...
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Fujifilm Prescale®

Fujifilm Prescale is a unique, affordable and easy to use tool that reveals the distribution...
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Topaq® Pressure Analysis System

Used in conjunction with Fujifilm Prescale pressure indicating films, Topaq provides a quick, yet thorough analysis
of the pressure distribution and magnitude between any two surfaces that come into contact...
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Mold Align®

Mold-Align is a unique, affordable and easy to use tool that reveals pressure distribution between mold platens.
Mold-Align paper, which changes color relative to the amount of contact force. It is an extremely economical
and practical solution for determining proper mold alignment...
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Point Scan

PointScan is a portable Windows based measurement system that enables rapid evaluation of pressure magnitude
at any given point on Fuji Prescale surface pressure indicating film. Simply position PointScan over the area
you wish to analyze and the pressure data is instantly displayed in your Windows software...
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Pressurex-micro®

Pressurex-mirco is a unique, affordable and easy to use tool that reveals relative pressure distribution
between two contacting, mating or impacting surfaces. This pressure indicating sensor film is thin (20 mils)
which enables it to conform to curved surfaces. It is ideal for invasive intolerant environments and
tight spaces not accessible to conventional electronic transducers...
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TemprX®

Fuji Prescale film is a unique, affordable and easy to use tool that reveals the distribution and
magnitude of pressure between any two contacting, mating or impacting surfaces. With the use of TemprX
thermal protection polyimide film it can be used in applications that reach high temperatures...
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Thermex®

Thermex® is a unique temperature indicating material. As thin as a standard sheet of paper, Thermex changes
color to reveal relative temperature distribution between any two contacting surfaces. Upon exposure to
temperature, the Thermex® sheet instantaneously and permanently changes color, with the intensity of
that color directly related to the temperature it was exposed to. This allows Thermex to reveal spot high or
low temperature zones. Thermex® is inexpensive, precise and disposable...
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Encasement Service

Our new Encasement Service for Pressure Indicating Film offers engineers in the flexo, converting and
packaging industries the ability to have Fujifilm Prescale protected so that it can measure contact pressure.

In-House Consulting

Sensor Products now introduces our new in-house surface stress analysis service.
All you need to do is send your part, machine, fixture or assembly to us and weâ€™ll do the rest.
Via video-conferencing you can view the results of our analysis practically in real-time.

Laser Cutting

Leasing Options

Sensor Products offers a variety of products that are available for short and long term lease.
A lease will enable you to gain access to the benefits of our products without the commitment to buy.
Furthermore, after your analysis you can also send the session data back to us for a more in-depth review and critique.

R&D Engineering

Sensor Products has a highly dedicated team of talented engineers with 25 years of combined experience
in the niche discipline of tactile surface sensing. Your project will be supervised by a product manager who
will be your direct contact, and worked upon by our staff consists of material, mechanical, and PHD level electrical engineers.

Thrombosis Retrieval Device

With stroke being the third leading cause of death in the United States, there is a
need for the discovery of alternate treatments that can both save and improve the lives of
those afflicted by a stroke. The purpose of the design team is to design, build, and test a
macro model device that can mechanically ease the effects of a stroke by removing or
breaking down the blood clot that causes a stroke. To solve the problem the team
researched similar devices and analyzed their sources of failure. After researching, the
team was able to brainstorm five designs and narrowed them down to one design that we
agreed to solely pursue to the next stages of development. The design that will be used is
a vacuum strainer device that will pierce the blood clot, vacuum the clot into the device,
and break it up into smaller pieces where it can be reintroduced into the blood stream. If
the team is able to prove our concept, it can potentially be manufactured and used by
doctors to help stroke victims all over the world.

Introduction

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and will occur in
700,000 Americans this year, of these 700,000, over 163,000 of them will die. Ischemic
stroke is when a blood clot, called a thrombus, blocks blood in a cerebral artery from
entering the brain causing brain cells to die. Ischemic stroke is the most common type of
stroke and accounts for 85% of all strokes. Time is very important when treating a stroke
since every second that passes, 32,000 brain cells die. Treatments of ischemic stroke
include pharmacologic thrombolysis (intravenous drugs that dissolve blood clots) and
mechanical thrombectomy (removing the clot mechanically).

The objective of this project is to design a MEMS (microelectromechanical
system) device to mechanically remove or break apart a blood clot in the cerebral artery
in stroke patients. The device will need to completely relieve the effects of the stroke and
replenish blood to the brain in a small amount of time. A macro scale prototype of the
device will be built and demonstrated in an in vitro model.

Considering the medical arena we’ve entered with the commencement of this
project, the impact of it directly depends on the efficiency of our process. The removal of
blood clots from a patient’s vessels could be a life or death situation. With the current
method of injecting tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to dissolve blood clots, the
probability of recurrence makes it a short term solution with negative long term effects.
Our device aims to provide a more complete treatment and reduce the recurrence rate
while limiting vessel damage for our patients. The fact that our device can be used in a
proactive process (rather than waiting for a removing agent to do the work) makes it all
the more significant.

Design Requirements:

Minimalization of further damage

Effect on blood flow

Vessel wall safety

Ease of use

Cost of manufacture

Removal of thrombus

Destruction of thrombus

Durability

Several factors need to be considered in the selection of the final design. The
criteria are the durability, removal of the blood clot, destruction of the blood clot, cost of
manufacture, ease of use, vessel wall safety, effect on blood flow, and minimalization of
further damage. The ease of use is concerned with how easy the device is to use and if
any additional training is needed to operate. Each concept is broken up into either a
design to remove the clot or destroy to clot. Any concept needs to limit the chance of
further damage to the body, such as tissue decay or vessel destruction. Cost is of vital
importance to ensure that as many patients as possible could benefit from the design’s
advantages. We also looked into the existing products to determine their successes and
design failures in order to design the best product possible. Below are examples of
existing products;

1. Merci Retrieval System

The MERCI (Mechanical Embolus Removal in Cerebral Ischemia) retrieval system is the
only device approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as a treatment for
ischemic stroke. The device is introduced into the body using a catheter and navigated
though blood vessels to the brain. The end of the device is fitted with a corkscrew where
it can be driven though the clot and mechanically remove it. A recent study with the
device showed success in 48% of patients where just the device alone was used and the
success rate increased to 60% when the device was used in combination with drug
therapy.

2. AngioJet System

The AngioJet system is a device that uses saline jets directed back into the catheter to
create a low pressure zone at the end of the device to essentially vacuum the clot to
remove it from the body. However, the system was designed to remove clots from other
arteries other than from the brain.

3. Latis Laser Device

The Latis laser device uses a laser at its tip to heat the clot to the point where it would
breakdown. However, clinical trials showed that surgeons were unable to successfully get
the device to the brain and further trials were abandoned.

4. Endovascular Photo Acoustic Recanalization Laser

The endovascular photo acoustic recanalization (EPAR) laser uses directs laser energy to
the clot where it is absorbed and converted to acoustic energy. The clot is then broken up
into small globules by the tip of the device. Clinical trials showed success in 44% of
patients were the device was used in conjunction with drug therapy, but only a 15%
success rate were the device was used alone. Currently, lack of funding has stopped any
further clinical trials.

5. EKOS Ultrasound Device

The EKOS ultrasound device uses a small ultrasound transducer at the tip of the device in
combination with drug therapy to dissolve the clot. The ultrasound waves increase the
permeability of the clot in order to speed up the effects of the drugs. Clinical trials of this
device are currently ongoing, preliminary results show that complete breakdown of the
clot takes an average of 46 minutes.

After examining the existing products we determined the advantages and disadvantages
of each device:

Design Approaches:

With previous research on existing designs and their pros/cons, certain criteria
was necessary in developing conceptual designs. One significant consideration was the
nature of a blood clot. A blood clot, composed of platelets that exist within blood, has a
viscous consistency. Although it blocks the passage way of blood, it does not have a solid
form that is easily grasped. Putting this into consideration, various designs were
constructed. All the devices would be accompanied by a guide wire which would be
directed by a surgeon through a patient via external controls. The location of the device
would be monitored via CAT scan.

One design was an “umbrella” like device designed to capture the clot and
remove it from the body. The device would initially be collapsed and enclosed by a tip.
The surgeon would guide the tip past the clot. Once the device was properly placed, the
“umbrella” would inflate, creating a scoop which could then be redirected out the body.

Another design designated for removal is the “jaw” device. Its design is
compromised of a clamp like mechanism which encloses the clot within itself. The
device would prevent the mass from escape. The surgeon could then pull out the clot via
the path entered with the aid of the guide wire.

Another form of treatment is to break up the blood clot into particles minute
enough to reenter the bloodstream and no longer prove harmful. A viable option is to use
a vacuum strainer; the concept behind this would be to strain the blood clot through a
micro-mesh or push the clot through a small opening. To do this, there would need to be
some type of encapsulated tip that would be able to push and/or pull the clot through the
strain/hole using some type of vacuum.

Applying the same principle of breakdown, a method that would use an active-tip
is also a plausible option. This method would involve using minimal vibration induced
from an active-tip. At proper frequencies, the tip would be able to induce breakdown of
the clot.

A similar method would be using a bristle device. This device would encompass
closely to the walls of the blood vessel rotating within the clot and thereby breaking it
down. This concept is closely related to a street cleaning brush.

These thus far are the options which have been entertained. A concept comparison
matrix is used to determine the overall effectiveness of these ideas based on our criteria.
This is of course does not mean that there will we no further emphasis placed on new
ideas and possibilities. New concepts are constantly being entertained and these will be
evaluated thusly.

Budget

According to our multiple design approaches, we determined that our designs are
compromised of two things: the wire, and the tip. The wire will act as the guide to bring
the tip to the clot site. The design of the wire will remain the same for each design
approach. However, the tip that will either extract or remove the clot will obviously need
to change depending upon the approach. Therefore, with this logic in mind, the budget
for our different designs will remain very similar.

A final production design has yet to be determined. The group is planning on
making a macro model in order to demonstrate the basic premise of the device. The real
device will use nitinol wire, which is a common wire used in the production of
endoscopes and other medical equipment. The macro model will be made of a wire,
which on the macro level should accurately portray the movements of the nitinol at a
cheaper price. The simulator will be easy to set up repeatedly for more then one
demonstration.

Macro Model

Computers

$1000

Pressure Sensors

$180

Transparent Tubing

$20

Clot Substance

$5

Simulation Software

$200

Total

$1405

Gantt Chart

On our gantt chart we display all of the deliverables and objectives that we wish
to meet specifically for the first semester but also for the second semester of Senior
Design. The basis of our project is to create an in-vitro model that will display how our
project will perform its task. Because this model will remain exactly no matter which
conceptual design idea is chosen, we feel that only one gantt chart is necessary to get our
point across. All of our conceptual ideas will be designed to perform the same task but
possible in a different way. This allows us to keep a general gantt chart that will apply to
all designs. As our gantt chart shows we are currently on schedule as a group. We have
completed all of the deliverables up till now and are on track to meet all objectives in the
future. We have been in close contact with our mechanical advisor in attempt to get a
conceptual idea approved for further research.

Conclusions

With stroke being the third leading cause of death in the United States, there is a
need for a device that can reduce the overall damage a stroke does to the body. The goal
of the group is to design, build, and test a macro scale device that can enter the blood
vessels of the body, be navigated to the site of a blood clot in the brain, and either
remove or breakdown the clot. Phase I of the project was composed of research of the
problem, brainstorming of concepts, and the evaluation of the concepts. The research
showed that there have been many attempts to make a device that can rid a blood clot
from the brain but only one has been FDA approved. After the research, the group was
able to brainstorm five promising ideas of a new device. As we enter phase II of the
project, the group has agreed to pursue a vacuum strainer type device to solve the
problem of quickly restoring blood flow to the brains of stroke victims. The next steps for
the group are to finalize the design and make calculations on how the device will
perform.

Since this project is interdepartmental most of the electrical engineering aspects
that we will be responsible for have for the most part not been addressed yet. The
majority of the project so far has been to come up with a mechanical method to remove
the blood clot from the patients veins. Most of the electrical engineering work will be
done in designing the model and simulation for the product. We are going to need to
design a macro blood vessel which is as close to lifelike as possible. We will need to use
sensors and instruments to create an environment similar to the human body. We will
also need to use computer software to receive said data and interpret it. We will also be
responsible for researching what would have to change with our product in order to
shrink it down to a usable device in the field. This research will be done because we do
not have the technology or knowledge to create an actual to scale usable model but we do
wish to know how it could be done. The electrical engineering role will become very
important, especially in the second semester of senior design although we have still
played an integral part in getting the group to the point it is at currently.